The Perfect (Ofsted) Science Lesson


Book Description

Have you ever sat in a science classroom as either a pupil or an observer and been bored? John has, but it should never have happened. Science can be the most absorbing, engaging, gross, fascinating, smelly, exciting, practical, electrifying, challenging and explosive subject in the curriculum. No other subject can - literally - make your hair stand on end! John draws on his years of experience as a science learner, teacher and trainer to reveal the habits and mindsets of great science learners and teachers - and shows how these mindsets and habits can be taught. He gives clear guidance (referenced to Ofsted advice on outstanding practice) on engaging starters, success criteria, motivational lesson activities, effective plenaries and powerful feedback which will show that crucial progress over time. This book really will make your lessons go with a bang! For all primary and secondary science teachers. Essential reading whether you are a trainee teacher, newly qualified or more experienced and looking for fresh ideas. The Perfect (Ofsted) Science Lesson shows you how to: hook pupils into learning, deliver consistently engaging lessons, get more from your curriculum time, establish routines and good learning habits, keep motivation and attainment levels high, make your practicals more productive, use feedback effectively, re-invigorate your practice, and deliver consistently outstanding lessons.




Making Every Lesson Count


Book Description

Packed with practical teaching strategies, Making Every Lesson Count bridges the gap between research findings and classroom practice. Shaun Allison and Andy Tharby examine the evidence behind what makes great teaching and explore how to implement this in the classroom to make a difference to learning. They distil teaching and learning down into six core principles challenge, explanation, modelling, practice, feedback and questioning and show how these can inspire an ethos of excellence and growth, not only in individual classrooms but across a whole school too. Combining robust evidence from a range of fields with the practical wisdom of experienced, effective classroom teachers, the book is a complete toolkit of strategies that teachers can use every lesson to make that lesson count. There are no gimmicky ideas here just high impact, focused teaching that results in great learning, every lesson, every day. To demonstrate how attainable this is, the book contains a number of case studies from a number of professionals who are successfully embedding a culture of excellence and growth in their schools. Making Every Lesson Count offers an evidence-informed alternative to restrictive Ofsted-driven definitions of great teaching, empowering teachers to deliver great lessons and celebrate high-quality practice. Suitable for all teachers including trainee teachers, NQTs, and experienced teachers who want quick and easy ways to enhance their practice and make every lesson count. Educational Book Award winner 2016 Judges' comments: A highly practical and interesting resource with loads of information and uses to support and inspire teachers of all levels of experience. An essential staffroom book.




Making Every Science Lesson Count


Book Description

Making Every Science Lesson Count: Six Principles to Support Great Science Teaching goes in search of answers to the fundamental question that all science teachers must ask: 'What can I do to help my students become the scientists of the future?' Writing in the practical, engaging style of the award-winning Making Every Lesson Count, Shaun Allison returns with an offering of gimmick-free advice that combines the time-honoured wisdom of excellent science teachers with the most useful evidence from cognitive science. The book is underpinned by six pedagogical principles challenge, explanation, modelling, practice, feedback and questioning and provides simple, realistic classroom strategies that will help teachers make abstract ideas more concrete and practical demonstrations more meaningful. It also points a sceptical finger at the fashions and myths that have pervaded science teaching over the past decade or so such as the belief that students can make huge progress in a single lesson and the idea that learning is speedy, linear and logical. Instead, Shaun advocates an approach of artful repetition and consolidation and shows you how to help your students develop their conceptual understanding of science over time. Making Every Science Lesson Count is for new and experienced science teachers alike. It does not pretend to be a magic bullet. It does not claim to have all the answers. Rather the aim of the book is to provide effective strategies designed to help you to bring the six principles to life, with each chapter concluding in a series of questions to inspire reflective thought and help you relate the content to your classroom practice. In an age of educational quick fixes, GCSE reform and ever-moving goalposts, this precise and timely addition to the Making Every Lesson Count series provides practical solutions to perennial problems and inspires a rich, challenging and evidence-informed approach to science teaching. Suitable for science teachers of students aged 11 to 16 years.




100 Ideas for Secondary Teachers: Outstanding Science Lessons


Book Description

No matter what you teach, there is a 100 Ideas title for you! The 100 Ideas series offers teachers practical, easy-to-implement strategies and activities for the classroom. Each author is an expert in their field and is passionate about sharing best practice with their peers. Each title includes at least ten additional extra-creative Bonus Ideas that won't fail to inspire and engage all learners. _______________ Winner of best Secondary non-ICT resource at the 2016 ERA awards This title in the 100 Ideas series provides secondary school science teachers with practical ideas and activities to use in their lessons as well as teaching and planning strategies to help make practice outstanding every day. The author is a science teacher and winner of the Wellcome Trust Enthuse award for Science. He has a growing Twitter following and the book will be full of his really original and engaging science ideas. The book will include ideas on integrating literacy into science lessons, safety in the lab and ideas for challenging the more able.




Independent Thinking on Teaching and Learning


Book Description

Jackie Beere's Independent Thinking on Teaching and Learning: Developing independence and resilience in all teachers and learners is a practical guide full of educational wisdom to help teachers make a genuine difference to the lives of every young person in their classroom. Foreword by Ian Gilbert. All the evidence shows that the most valuable asset in any classroom is the teacher at the front. No matter what changes are made to systems or to the curriculum, one certainty remains: children will be helped or hindered in their learning, job prospects, life chances and, indeed, happiness by the teachers they come across during their time in the education system. In this all-encompassing book on teaching and learning, Independent Thinking Associate Jackie Beere draws on her many years' experience as a teaching assistant, primary teacher and secondary head teacher to re-energise every teacher's passion for their profession. She champions both children and teachers as learners, and together with expert advice on how to instil the habits of independent learning in all pupils shares great practice that delivers outstanding outcomes for all educators. Jackie encourages teachers to embrace challenge and change, and suggests ways in which they can provide a model for their pupils when it comes to developing independence and resilience. She also offers expert guidance on how teachers can build rapport with their students and cultivate with them a sense of co-ownership of their learning journey so that they work hard, value their learning and fulfil their potential. Essential reading for all teachers and school leaders who wish to make an impact on the teaching and learning in their school. Independent Thinking on Teaching and Learning contains some material previously published in The Perfect Lesson (ISBN 978-178135244-1) and The (Practically) Perfect Teacher (ISBN 978-178135252-6), and is one of a number of books in the Independent Thinking On ... series from the award-winning Independent Thinking Press. Independent Thinking on Teaching and Learning has been shortlisted for the Educational Book Award in the 2021 Education Resources Awards!




The Perfect (Ofsted) Lesson


Book Description

How can a teacher make sure, in the brief time that an inspector spends in their classroom, that the lesson ticks enough boxes to impress? This book is designed to help improve school's Ofsted results. It leads the teacher through the criteria to search for the magic ingredients that will elevate lessons to outstanding.




The Perfect (Ofsted) School Governor


Book Description

Each of the 20,000 schools in the UK has a governing body who are an integral part of the school's major decision making processes, the results of which directly affect our children. For this reason it is essential that governors make clear and informed decisions in order to implement the best educational framework for young people. This latest addition to the hugely successful 'Perfect Series', The Perfect (Ofted) School Governor written by a seasoned professional with 17 years' of head teacher experience, aims to be the most conclusive, easy-to-read, education jargon-busting and essential guide for teachers, governors (new and old) and school boards alike. It covers everything a governor needs to be the best that they can be, including the history of the education system in England, preparation for Ofsted inspections and their impact, leadership and governance, handling complaints, a checklist for effective governor meetings; guides to interpreting data correctly and much, much more!




The Perfect (Ofsted) Lesson


Book Description

A revised and updated version of Jackie Beeres best-selling The Perfect (Ofsted) Lesson ISBN 9781845904609. How to make that whole school inspection practically perfect in every way. What is it that makes a good school an outstanding one? What are the inspectors looking for? What is it that the outstanding schools do that catches the Ofsted inspectors eye? To answer these questions, Jackie has combined her extensive experience in education with research done in schools recently awarded that outstanding gold star. This book shares her findings in a practical, down-to-earth way that is as much about worldclass quality in teaching and learning as it is about surviving an inspection. With it, you can be confident of revealing your school in the best possible light and, who knows, you may even enjoy the process




The Perfect (Ofsted) English Lesson


Book Description

Another from Jackie Beere's 'Perfect' stable, this simple but effective little book is designed to help bring the best out of all English departments during that all-important Ofsted visit. It is written by David Didau, a highly effective and innovative head of English at a school where Independent Thinking is a trustee. He has been instrumental in overseeing an enviable rise in A* to C results over the last few years to 84% in 2011. Packed full of ideas, strategies and simple yet effective innovations, this book is an essential tool in the toolkit of every English department - and not just for the inspection either! With topics including assessment for learning, progress, the learning environment and planning outstanding lessons, this is the book for every English teacher's desk drawer.




Science Learning, Science Teaching


Book Description

Now fully updated in its third edition, Science Learning, Science Teaching offers an accessible, practical guide to creative classroom teaching and a comprehensive introduction to contemporary issues in science education. Aiming to encourage and assist professionals with the process of reflection in the science classroom, the new edition examines the latest research in the field, changes to curriculum and the latest standards for initial teacher training. Including two brand new chapters, key topics covered include: the science curriculum and science in the curriculum planning and managing learning learning in science – including consideration of current ‘fads’ in learning safety in the science laboratory exploring how science works using ICT in the science classroom teaching in an inclusive classroom the role of practical work and investigations in science language and literacy in science citizenship and sustainability in science education. Including useful references, further reading lists and recommended websites, Science Learning, Science Teaching is an essential source of support, guidance and inspiration all students, teachers, mentors and those involved in science education wishing to reflect upon, improve and enrich their practice.